Holder for socket-wrench sets



Dec. 9, 1930. 5, mg 1,784,203

HOLDER FOR SOCKET WRENCH SETS Filed Nov. 5" 192,6

Patented Dec. 9, 1930 1 a 1 y 7 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE np 'ucatimifiiea November '5, 1926. Serial No. 146,360.

This invention relates toholders for holdthroughthe adjacent end of the holder, and ing a socket wrench set which consists of a consequently inward movement of the larger plurality of sockets of graduated sizes and a sockets is limited, by the above mentioned bent end handle member adapted tobe interengagement between the respective sockets,

5, changeably used with any of the sockets. whereby, jamming or Wedging of the sockets The objects of the invention are'to provide in the tapered housing is prevented. meansfor holding asocket wrench set such as For holding or looking the sockets in the above described in aneat and orderly comhousing I provide means for positioningthe pact arrangement to provide a holder which handle member alongside the row of sockets 10 can bemanufacturedo'f a single sheet of com with its bent end projecting over the large I paratively thin gauge material, but which and open end of the housing. This means i will be-strongand rigid, although light in may consist in another tubular member 14, weight; to provide aholder which can be prowhich is substantially uniform in diameter duced at a comparatively low cost; to provide throughout its length, and whose diameter is 5 a holder which will require no caps or other sufiicient to permit insertion of the straight f 'movably connected parts, and in general, .to end 15 of the handle therein, as shown in Figs. provide an improved structure of the class 2 and 4; The handle is adapted to be posidescribed. I i I tioned so that the bent end16 thereof projects V ,xOther objects and advantages will be unover the large open end of'the housing. The derstood by reference to the following speci-' bent end of the handle is thusefiiective to lock fication consideredin'connection with the acthe sockets in the housing. 'companying,drawing illustrating a selected I preferto provide the tubular members embodiment of my invention, and wherein: l0 and 14 of such length that they will ex- Fig.1 is aperspective' f I tend 'overa large portion of the bent end of Fig. 2 isa longitudnal' section showing a the handle member as shown in Fig. 2, and

k socket'wrench set packed in'the holder. whereby the wall at the large end 12 of the Fig.3is an end elevation, and socket housing will be effective to prevent j 1 '7 Fig. l is a section on the line 4;4l of Fig. 2. turning of the handle member in its housing x I Referring now toithe drawings, my im- 14 to a position where the bent end 16 would 30 proved holder consists principallyin a conbe rendered inoperative to lock the sockets t-aiiier or housing 10, which in the present in their housing. In order to permit the embodiment. is circularin cross section, and .Withdrawal of the handle member, I provide iftapersfrom a smallfldiameter at oneend, as notches 17, in the side walls of the holder so r atll, tofa larger diameter, as at the other end. that ample room is provided for gripping the f;.12.,, The tapering housing is'adapted to re-f bent 'end of the handle member with the fceive the set of sockets arranged end to end, fingers. The handle is releasably locked in i and with the smallest socket in the small end the housing 1 1 by means of a pair of inwardly .ofthe housing as shown in Fig. 2. The housbent 'ears,1818 which, as shown in Fig. 3 ing isso taperedthat the sockets may be promust be ;torced outwardly as the handle memgressively arranged infthe housingaccording ber is drawn out. The ears 1818 serve as a 96 ,t to size with the largest socketatthe large end spring clip and their tension may read ly be a of the housing, and whereby each'socket will" adjusted by bending the ears in or out to abutthe end of the adjacent smaller socket. efi'ect the desired holding tension on the I At the smallend of the housing I provide handle member, v 5 stop means for preventin'g'the smallestlsocket In the present embodiment of my 1I lVeI1' of the set from passingthrough the adjacent tion, I prefer to make the holder of a slngle end of the housing and this means consists sheet of metal, and as clearly shown in Figs. in a plurality ofinturned ears or lugs 13, as '1" and 4, the; sheet may be bent to form the clearly shown injFi gi 1. The ears '13 prevent above described tubular members or hous- 59 en'dwise movement of the smallest socket ings. with a comp ratively smallspe e ter 100 ma'dem the form, construction and arrangevening where the metal is brought together, as at 19, to separate thetwo members In some instances, I find it desirable to secure the two sides of the holder together at the joint 19 by means of welding as indicated at 20-20, at opposite ends of the holder, or by any other suitable means. By thus welding or securing the opposite sides of the holder together, I am able to use comparatively thin gauge metal, while in cases where heavier metal is used, it may be self sustaining, and.

' the sockets, stop means at one end of the housing for retaining the sockets in the holder at that end, and means for releasably holding the handle member with its bent end extendneed not be thus secured.

In order to strengthen the holder above described, I provide ribs 21 which are pressed outwardly from the metal as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These ribs 21- are efiective to strengthen the holder so that it will withstand rou h and careless handling, to which holders oi this class are commonly subjected, and particularly against forces which would tend to flatten or distort the tubular housings.

I have thus provided a holder which is simple in construction, consisting of only one piece of sheet metal, and which effectively retains a socket wrench set of the class described, in a neat and compact arrangement without adding materially to the weight or to the cost ofthe setwhen sold' as a single article. a r i i I am aware that various changes may be ment of parts, without departing from the spirit of the inventionasdefined in the following claims, which I desire to have construed as broadly as possible, consistent with r the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. vIn a holder for holding a set of sockets in a row and a bent end handle member lengthwise of said row, the combination of an elongated container for receiving the set of sockets and having one end open for permitting insertion or withdrawal of the sockets, and means for releasably holding the handle member with its bent end disposed over 'the open end of the container to prevent removal of the sockets therethrough.

2. A holder for holding a set of sockets'in a row and a bent end handle member alongside the row, comprising an elongated socket receiving means adapted to receive a set of sockets in a row, said receiving means having" stop means at one'end forpreventing movementof the sockets therethrough, and an opening adjacent the other end for permitting insertion or'removal of the sockets therefrom, and means for releasably holding a handle member alongside the row of sockets with a portion of the handle member extendan open ended tubular housing for receiving end of the housing the smallest socket of the set, saidhousing being the sockets, stop means at one end of the in over the other end of the housin for reta ning the sockets in the holder at t e latter end, and means for preventing sidewise displacement of said bent end. V

5. In a holder forholding a set of sockets in a. row and a bent end handle member lengthwise ofthe row, the combination of a tubular housing substantially circular in cross section and of greater diameter at one end than at the other stop means at the small for engaging one end of of such diametrical dimensions throughout its length that each socket will engage the adjacent end ofthe nextsmaller socket, and means for releasably holdin the handle member in packed position wit the bent end extending over the large end ofsaid housing for locking the sockets-thereon.

6. In a holder for holding a set of sockets in arow and a bent end handle member lengthwise of the, row, the combinatio'n'of an elongated housing for receiving thesockets in a row, said housing being tapered in cross sectional size so as to snugly receive the small-' est socket at one end and each succeeding larger socket in regular rogressive arrange ment and with eachsoc 'et abutti the adof the housin being 0 n to permit insertion or removalo the soc ets'therethrou'gh, and means for releasably holding the handle member in packed position along the rowoi prising a tubular member tapered in cross;

sectional size from one end to the other and another tubular member'substanti'ally uniform cross-sectional size throughout its length and extendingalong side said tapered ng over said opening so as to lock the sockets in the receivingmeans.

member, said members being formed of a single sheet of metal, and each being open at one end for 'ermitting. insertion orremoval of parts of t ewrench set. i

8. A holder for a socket wrench set, comprising a tub ar. e b apere i ,jacent socket, and means at thesma 1 end of V the housin forpreventingremoval of the, smaller soc et through that end, the other end sectional size from one end to the other and another tubular member substantially uniform in cross-sectional size throu hout its length and extending along side an secured to said taperedmember, each of said tubular members being open at one end to permit insertion or removal of parts of the socket wrench set.

9. A holder of the class described comprising a pair of spaced, but integrally united side members, each having a longitudinally extending marginal portion bent inwardly towards each other so as to form a longitudinally slitted housing and both of said side members having a corresponding intermediate longitudinally extending portion bent inwardly towards the other side member so as to divide said housing into two longitudinally extending compartments, one of said compartments being adapted to receive a plurality of sockets and the other compartment being adapted to receive the handle portion of a bent end handle member with the bent end projecting over the adjacent end of the other compartment so as to close said adjacent end, and means for closing the other end of said socket receiving compartment.

HAROLD G. RICE. 

